Packer ton extends Tatts’ lead in second grade competition

Narrabri District Cricket Association’s leading run-scorer in the second grade competition was at his brilliant best again on Saturday as Jesse Packer blasted his second century of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Tatts skipper struck 133 runs off 102 balls to guide his side to a 168-run round nine win over Sign Print Stitch Narrabri Colts at Cooma Oval.

Tatts batted first after Packer won the toss, and they made 6-185 in their 40 overs before bowling the Colts out for 17 in just 15.1 overs.

Packer entered the middle in the sixth over of that first innings after David McInnes had bowled Dennis Harvey (1), and he remained at the crease until the end when he was caught for 133 runs by Blair Lennox off the bowling of Mick Dowdell from the final delivery of the 40th over. He had struck eight fours and 11 sixes on his way to a season-high score, which saw him end the round with 391 runs at an average of 97.75 in the one day competition.

Robert Packer (28) and Michael Hewett (11*) also made handy contributions during that innings, while the competition’s leading wicket-taker Gus Ford was his side’s best with the ball with 2-23 from six overs, which took his season total to 24 scalps.

Dillon Hutton then set the tone early in the second innings with a wicket in the first over as he dismissed Brock Allen (0) with the assistance of a brilliant diving catch from wicketkeeper Michael Hewett.

Hutton (7-9 from eight overs) and his opening bowling partner Jarrod Gould (3-8 from 7-1 overs) were the only two bowlers required for Tatts as they ripped through the Colts to limit them to 17 runs in 15.1 overs, while Hewett took four catches.

Dowdell (5) was the chasing side’s top scorer following an innings that included five ducks.

Tatts had entered round nine just three points clear of second-placed RSL, but they extended that to nine points following their win after RSL were beaten by Tourist Hotel.

Those two teams met at Leitch Oval, where the Tourist side batted first and made 9-109 in their 40 overs before bowling RSL out for 59 runs in 20.1 overs.

Allan Whitmore top-scored for RSL against his old team with 30 runs in that game after opening the batting, but none of his teammates were able to reach double figures as they lost by 50 runs.

Round 10 matches this Saturday will see RSL meet Sign Print Stitch Colts while Tatts challenge Tourist Hotel.